Using the EXS24 Software Sampler


Hands down, the EXS24 is Logic Pro's most versatile tool. With 24-bit audio resolution, virtual memory for streaming samples from disk, and an advanced modulation matrix, the EXS24 is a full-featured sampler that can serve as a workhorse for your productions.

In order to best utilize the EXS24, it is important that you understand how it functions. Sound generation consists of three main components: samples, sampler instruments, and playback parameters. Samples are basically standard digital audio files that are organized into sampler instruments, which are then triggered and processed via the EXS24.

In the following exercises, you will examine each of the main components that create and play back EXS24 sounds.

Opening the EXS24 Instrument Editor

1.

Select the Inst 2 track.

2.

In the channel strip area, click-hold the input field and choose Mono > Logic > EXS24.

The EXS24 interface opens.

3.

Click-hold the Sampler Instrument window and choose 03 Bass > Fretless Electric Bass.

The EXS24 takes a moment to load the samples into RAM.

NOTE

While the EXS24 needs to load a sampler instrument in order to use its sample playback functions, it can output a simple sine wave without one being loaded. This allows you to determine if the EXS24 is functioning correctly without loading an instrument.

4.

Play your MIDI keyboard to audition the Fretless Electric Bass instrument.

NOTE

If you used the octave transposition buttons of your MIDI controller to play the Ultrabeat patterns earlier in this lesson, you will need to transpose up to play in the Fretless Electric Bass' range. Use the floating MIDI display to check your range.

5.

Click the Edit button to the right of the Sampler Instrument window.

The EXS24 Instrument Editor opens.

NOTE

Depending on the size of your display, you might need to close the EXS24 window to see an unobstructed view of the EXS Instrument Editor.

The EXS24 Instrument Editor allows you to peek into the construction of the Fretless Electric Bass sampler instrument. Let's get familiar with the areas within the editor.

The top portion of the window contains the key mapping. Each gray bar, called a Zone, represents a single audio file that is mapped across a range of keys (represented graphically by the piano keyboard at the top). For each Zone, the EXS24 automatically pitch-shifts the audio in relation to the pitch of the keyboard. Zones with the same key range are stacked vertically and trigger separately, depending on MIDI velocity. (The Zones at the bottom trigger at lower velocities, and the upper Zones trigger at higher velocities.)

Take a quick look at one of the Zones in detail.

6.

From the submenus within the EXS Instrument Editor, choose Zone > "Move selected to the top."

7.

Click the Zone starting on E0 and ending on E1 (see below) in the top part of the EXS24 Instrument Editor.

The bottom portion of the EXS Instrument Editor contains the parameters for each of the Zones depicted above. By having "Move selected to the top" enabled, whatever Zone you select in the key mapping area will be displayed at the top of the list of Zones in the lower area (Zone parameters).

Each Zone is depicted below with a set of parameters that control how the audio file will be played back (key range, tuning, volume, pan, and so on). The bottom of the box lists information pertaining to the start point for playback and indicates what part (if any) of the audio file will loop while the key is depressed.

8.

In the Start Frame settings, click the box with an "E" in it.

The Sample Editor opens, displaying the audio file used in the Zone.

NOTE

You might get an alert message stating that the audio file does not have sufficient access privileges to save an overview. Go ahead and click OK, as this won't keep you from looking at the file.

NOTE

You might need to resize the window or use the Zoom sliders in order to see the entire sound wave.

You now can see a detailed depiction of the audio file used by your selected Zone. This illustrates the total integration of the EXS24 within Logic Pro; you can edit samples without ever having to leave the Logic environment.

9.

Click the Audition button located at the far left of the window.

A single bass note sounds.

10.

Close the Sample Editor.

11.

Close the EXS Instrument Editor.

Processing the Sampler Instrument

Now that you've seen how a sampler instrument is constructed, look at how the EXS24's controls can shape and process the sampler instrument.

1.

If necessary, reopen the EXS24 interface by double-clicking EXS24 within the input field (in the Arrange channel strip).

2.

While playing your MIDI controller, drag down the Cutoff knob in the Filter section, listening to the results.

The Filter mode is set for a Low Pass (12dB) by default, so you get a gradual roll-off of some of the high frequencies by reducing the cutoff value.

You could easily continue to sculpt the sound via the instrument's controls, adjusting the volume envelope, adding distortion, applying LFOs (low-frequency oscillators) to modulate parameters, and so on. This is similar to the way you would work with a subtractive synthesizer, but you would use the sampler instrument as the sound-generation source instead of a generated raw waveform.

3.

In the Transport, click the Solo button.

This will enable you to hear one part at a time while you work with the various instruments.

4.

Play the song, listening to how the part plays through the EXS24.



Apple Pro Training Series Advanced Logic Pro 7
Apple Pro Training Series: Advanced Logic Pro 7
ISBN: 0321256077
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2004
Pages: 166
Authors: David Dvorin

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